Coalition of the Swilling
As the world stopped to mark the second anniversary of the September 11 attacks and its horrendous human toll, attempts at writing new rules for global trade were hitting their own immovable object

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Crowded LivesLabor frontbencher Lindsay Tanner talks us through his new book on the importance of relationships and why politics is letting the people down.

Industrial: National FocusA showdown looms in Cancun, Qantas gets bolshie, casual and lazy in its response to aviation challenges, and long festering disputes fester on in Victoria and Tasmania reports Noel Hester in this national wrap.

Unions: If These Walls Could TalkTrades Hall is preparing for a major facelift but first, Jim Marr reports, it must bid farewell to the colourful bunch who have populated its dusty corridors in recent years.

Media: Three CornersSo its come to this. Four Corners, one of the world's longest running television programs is now under pressure from an ABC Executive that is less cultural visionary than feral abacus.

History: The Brisbane LinePercy Spender was Menzies' foreign minister, but, Neale Towart asks, was he also prepared to serve as Prime Minister in a Japanese controlled Australia?

Review: Frankie's WayIn The Night We Called It A Day Frank Sinatra learns 'sorry' Down Under is a loaded word and refusal to say it when due will lose fans in important places, writes Tara de Boehmler.

Workers Kicking Goals

"Bearded sparkies nursing babies while the missus bangs a fifty metre spiral through the goals and young children shouting ‘down with Abbott’ - this and more you’ll see at Port Melbourne on Saturday." says footballing legend Phil Cleary.

Cleary is looking forward to the annual Workers Day at the Footy at Port Melbourne on Saturday September 13 when the Box Hill Hawks and Sandringham Zebras do battle in the VFL Preliminary Final

Admission is free to Union members and their families on presentation of financial Union membership card.

VFL football is real grassroots footy. You can take the kids out to the coach's huddle and hear all the instructions, kick the footy with the family and enjoy a sausage from the BBQ.

The event is sponsored by unions and organisations including the MUA, ETU, ASU, ANF, AMWU, CEPU (ETU/CUW/Plumbers), CFMEU (FFTS), NUW, TWU, VTHC and Members Equity.

"It's the people's game and who better than the people, also known as the unions, to support it and to give it life," says Cleary, a commentator on the ABC TV's popular Saturday afternoon VFL coverage.

It is a great opportunity for workers and their families to enjoy a relaxing day on the grass at Port Melbourne. It's a chance to fly the union flag in a non-traditional setting and counter the myths created by Tony Abbott and his "big-end of town" mates.

The game promises to be a ripper, pitting two of this years form teams together in a do or die struggle to make this year's grand final.